In August 1959 MTT purchased Norton's Motors Burnie bus fleet and residence that included a small admin office at the rear. The photo shows an entry laneway on the RH side of the photo with a centre exit on the LH side. The large building behind the residence was the fleet garage with parking for 4 buses at a squeeze. Buses can be seen parked at the rear. The building on the RH side of the photo belonged a tyre company. The new office building is partly seen on the left.Another photo shows the rear entry of the building for drivers and staff with the former MTT Hobart Jeep parked near bus 523.Lastly a view of the public entry of the new building. All this lost because of the new expressway which took away much history with it's construction.

So much history with the bus operations of the MTT and its predecessors, the HMT & LMT. WE really need a comprehensive book to document this!! I think Ian Cooper might have one under development (I hope). If it is like his trolley-bus tomes, it should be a cracker!!

Thanks for this thread Locoles.Very interesting.When in Burnie in January,2015 I noticed that there was a Nortons Transport depot in the industrial area.Is this business a decendant of Norton's Motors ??Cheers-

Hi burrumbus, Yes, when Bob Norton & family sold the local bus business in 1959 they setup Norton Transport using a TK model [I think it was TK] Bedford petrol engine semi-trailer with a closed back. The Norton's sons would be most likely running that now.Cheers LocoLes.

Added to this earlier post are 3 more photographs of MTT's 'new' Mount Street office and staff facilities [at rear]. The first pic [1961] shows the building well under construction on the site of No.90 Mount Street which was originally used to park the fleet by Norton's Motors until August 1959 and then by MTT until construction began in 1961. The original office was at the rear of the residence, 88 Mount Street. That reminds me, it is now 58 years this month since MTT's purchase of Norton's Motors Pty. Ltd., Burnie. On the corner of Mount Street and Spring Street in the background are the P.M.G.'s [Post Master General] offices with distant pollution visible from A.P.P.M's South Burnie mill. Burnie Technical College is the building behind the telegraph pole on LH side of pic. Note the FJ Holden and Morris Minor among the vehicles visible. Burnie has changed considerably since 1961 as this is the site of the by-pass that was constructed right through this 'spot' mid 1970's which was the reason MTT resited to Strahan Street, South Burnie, the current depot site. This photo was taken from the storage area above the garage, workshops.

The next photo shows the completed offices fronting Mount Street with 3 CAC Bedfords visible [7SB's 152 and 72 and SB 33]. Note bus 72 has the upper section of the windscreens tinted green before being transferred to Burnie.

Hi everyone, My first post here. I am a Launceston based transport historian and am in the process of writing the history of the Norton family in transport, Percy, his sons Bob and Glynn and Bob's sons Tony and Tim who run the current Norton Transport in Burnie. Having done the obvious search of the forum I was pleasantly surprised to see Norton Motors featured here, albeit mainly after the MTT take over. I have attached a photo of 88 Mount St as owned y Percy before he built the shed behind for the buses. the house on the left, 90 Mount St, was owned by Glynn before it was demolished for more yard space.

88-90 Mount St when owned by Percy Norton before the rear shed was built

Welcome to the forum Any additional photographs and history re Norton Motors of Burnie prior to MTT's commencement of services would be of huge interest to us all. Your photo of the residence where Norton's [ then MTT's ] operations were based at 88 Mount Street c.1940's shows the area saw some development on the hillside in the background and the home at 92 Mount street is visible. No.88 is basically unchanged apart from different paintwork. The home at No.90 as you mentioned was demolished to make way for bus parking and later the new depot building. Your history of Norton Motors bus operations will be eagerly sought by fellow historians and enthusiasts All of this was 'lost' to the Burnie expressway development.

Thank you Locoles, I was amazed at the photographic history that the family has kept all these years, It goes all the way back to at least 1935 when the family moved to Rosebery and worked for EZ. I am wondering, would it be better to start a whole new thread on Norton Motors for the pre MTT info ?

Hi Darren, Yes, that is the residence as I remember it in 1959. And talk about 'workhorses' the 1948 SWB Land Rover parked there was THE workhorse until replaced by the ex MTT Hobart Willys Jeep. It was 4-WD and either pushed or towed buses everywhere ! It was fitted with a strong permanent pushing upright for that purpose in front of the grille as can be seen. Tony Norton would remember the times it was used to push start 'Old Daisey' the 1939 Reo [Perkins engine] No. 17 around the block to start it many times. Surprisingly #17 did it's share of the work along unsealed West Mooreville Road as a school bus a.m. and p.m. until the Seddons were transferred from MTT Launceston depot but that's another story. Seddons were not much better ! Cheers, Loco Les.